Tens of thousands gathered for what was billed as both an anniversary and a victory celebration after last month’s conflict, during which Hamas fired rockets toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Meshal, who has led Hamas from exile, used the occasion to reiterate the group’s long-held principles, calling for “armed resistance” to eliminate Israel.

“Palestine, from the river to the sea, from north to south, is our land,” Meshal said, “Not an inch of it can be conceded.”

“We cannot recognize the legitimacy of Israel’s occupation of Palestine,” he said. “There is no legitimacy to occupation, and therefore no legitimacy for Israel, no matter how long it will take.”

“Liberating Palestine, all of Palestine, is a duty, a right and a goal,” he added.

_________________With friends like Guido, you will not have enemies for long.

“Intellect is invisible to the man who has none” Arthur Schopenhauer

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."Albert Einstein

Which may be why the stakes are being raised by Israel now. I did not agree with their decision on the settlements, but in the article on the Hamas celebration it gave rise to why this might have been undertaken.

The E1 area lies between Jerusalem and the large settlement of Maale Adumim, but also connects the northern and southern parts of the West Bank.

Gaith al-Omari of The American Task Force on Palestine explained that the construction would destroy any hope of a two-state solution for two primary reasons:

1) If the settlements are built to the full extent of the plan, it will bisect the West Bank and "make it impossible to create a contiguous Palestinian state" through negotiations.

2) It would disconnect Jerusalem from the West Bank, "making it very difficult if not impossible to create a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, which is the Palestinian objective in negotiations."

_________________With friends like Guido, you will not have enemies for long.

“Intellect is invisible to the man who has none” Arthur Schopenhauer

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."Albert Einstein

Mr. Spot. The one with the big lip. Your putting words in my mouth about caring for others. I stand against terrorism. I stand for those who stand against terrorism. I care deeply about our ally. Israel. If that's trolling on this board than perhaps this board needs to reevaluate what it stands for. Perhaps you are confused about what you stand for. That's okay I understand the mind of a progressive. How dare you assume what I care for. f##k you and the horse you road in on. Is that a satisfactory response? Or is your brain like a BB in a box car rolling around. Do you get me?

Have a bigger lip yourself. Israel are the terrorists here back by the USA. No surprise.

Have a bigger lip yourself. Israel are the terrorists here back by the USA. No surprise.

The vast majority of posts indicate that Hamas and moslems in general are the terrorists denying Israel's history in the area, and her right to defend herself, and even her existence.

_________________"With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life.“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle“Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein

There won't be any two state solution because the Israeli government won't allow it. Prime Ministers get killed by Zionist fundamentalist settlers when they seriously suggest such a solution. Still Netanyahu will continue to make the two state pretense to not alienate the US even further. In the meantime the Settlements will keep increasing. I doubt many US administrations would have put up with Israel's fun and game if it weren't for the power of the Israeli lobby, and that includes from the evangelical Christian side where if the Israeli conquest narrative plays out completely, according to Biblical prophecy they will be raptured into heaven and their Israeli allies will go straight to hell, that is after services rendered. Some allies!

Seems that the general conventional and historical support for Israel's actions against the Palestinians is weakening, at least within the intellectual circles.

Hawking has visited Israel four times in the past. Most recently, in 2006, he delivered public lectures at Israeli and Palestinian universities as the guest of the British embassy in Tel Aviv. At the time, he said he was "looking forward to coming out to Israel and the Palestinian territories and excited about meeting both Israeli and Palestinian scientists".Since then, his attitude to Israel appears to have hardened. In 2009, Hawking denounced Israel's three-week attack on Gaza, telling Riz Khan on Al-Jazeera that Israel's response to rocket fire from Gaza was "plain out of proportion … The situation is like that of South Africa before 1990 and cannot continue."

"Out of proportion"...that's funny. If you don't want war, don't ask for it by utilizing weapons of war against your neighbor. There's nothing more idiotic than provoking someone with a bigger stick, then whining about it when they bitch slap you back.

"Out of proportion"...that's funny. If you don't want war, don't ask for it by utilizing weapons of war against your neighbor. There's nothing more idiotic than provoking someone with a bigger stick, then whining about it when they bitch slap you back.

I have to agree, the best way to stop someone from firing rockets at your territory is to destroy the launchers and everyone involved. The second best way is to make such an attack too costly for the people of Gaza to allow to continue.

_________________With friends like Guido, you will not have enemies for long.

“Intellect is invisible to the man who has none” Arthur Schopenhauer

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."Albert Einstein

"Out of proportion"...that's funny. If you don't want war, don't ask for it by utilizing weapons of war against your neighbor. There's nothing more idiotic than provoking someone with a bigger stick, then whining about it when they bitch slap you back.

What else should they do? When an entire group of people have their farms and orchards and homes and neighborhoods mowed down and taken over ... What would any of us do? How would you respond if you were in their position?

And then you ask about that "bigger stick". Do we dare provoke someone with a "bigger stick'? Really? What if the folk that want to participate in this conversation don't have a stick? Should we then just "bitch-slap" them?